“Does anyone else start dreading winter before it’s even properly begun?”
Now that the clocks have gone back, we’re entering that part of the year where it can be dark when you leave for work and dark again by the time you get home. Maybe you enjoy the colder weather, but for some people the shorter days can make everyday life feel quite different.
Perhaps you usually go for a walk after work, meet friends in the evening or spend time in the garden, and those things become less appealing when it’s cold and dark. You might find yourself spending more time indoors, seeing fewer people or feeling as though your day has finished before you’ve had much time for yourself.
If you’ve struggled during previous winters, you might already be worrying about how you’re going to feel over the coming months. And sometimes that anticipation can be difficult in itself, particularly if things are going quite well at the moment and you’re worried about losing that.
Not everybody who finds winter difficult has seasonal affective disorder, and there isn’t one explanation for why the darker months affect people differently. But if you notice a recurring change in your mood, energy or ability to manage everyday life, it’s worth taking seriously. Your GP can help you explore what support might be appropriate.
It might also be useful to think about which parts of your routine help you feel connected, active or comfortable, and how you could maintain some of those things through winter.
You don’t have to wait until things become really difficult before thinking about what might help.